Subtitle of this chapter: Transition, Transition.

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The inauguration of the President of the United States of America is a three-step process, a swearing-in ceremony on Capitol Hill in the morning, a parade on Pennsylvania Avenue in the afternoon, and a grand or not-so-grand inaugural ball in the evening.

The inauguration was organized by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC). There are also two smaller committees under this committee, the Inaugural Parade Committee and the Inaugural Ball Committee.

Don't laugh or be surprised, the U.S. Congress likes to set up committees of all kinds, from more than 100 at the beginning of the 20th century to more than 300 by the end of the century.

The history of the inaugural ball goes back a long way, and the venue and scope of the prom are constantly changing, often depending on the wishes of the person taking the oath.

A week after President George Washington was sworn in in New York City in 1789, an inaugural ball was held to celebrate the new president's inauguration.

It wasn't until 1809, when President James Madison held an inauguration ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, that the tradition of the inaugural ball was officially established. That night, First Lady Dolly Madison hosted a celebration at a hotel and sold 400 tickets. The first lady was particularly fond of balls, so she was called "Queen Dolly".

The inaugural ball quickly became a highlight of Washington's society, and every prom was a big spot for everyone. The organizers wanted the venue to accommodate a large number of guests, and initially they set up a makeshift ballroom for the ball.

However, the makeshift site was neither heated nor insulated, and it would be a disaster if it cooled down. For example, the inaugural ball held by Ulysses Grant in 1873 for his second term was bitterly cold. The guests had to dance in coats and hats, the food was cold, coffee and hot chocolate were swept away, and even the canaries used for decoration were frozen in their cages.

So after that, most of the inaugural balls were held in two indoor venues, the National Museum Building and the Pension Building.

Wilson, however, felt that the inaugural ball was too expensive and unnecessary for a solemn inauguration, so he asked the inaugural committee to cancel the prom for both terms.

By 1921, the newly inaugurated President Warren Harding wanted to set an example of frugality and austerity, so he asked the organizers to take the time-consuming and laborious inaugural ball.

The Inaugural Committee complied with his request, and as an alternative, the Inaugural Committee held a large private charity party at his own mansion. This was a precedent that was followed in subsequent inauguration ceremonies.

The chairman of this term was Andre Mellon (1855-1937). (Author's note: Actually, it wasn't him in history, but this guy is more because of the blow.) ）

He will also serve as Treasury Secretary in the Republican administration, a position that Mr. Mellon will hold for the next decade, if history does not change. That is, he would be the patriarch of Harding, Coolidge and Hoover.

Why is Mr. Meron so? Because he is the second-generation head of the Mellon consortium.

The Mellon consortium is the largest trust in the Pittsburgh area, controlling the U.S. industrial hub through financial institutions such as Mellon National Bank, National Bank of Pittsburgh and General Reinsurance.

Alcoa, a consortium subsidiary, has a complete monopoly on aluminum production in the United States. The Gulf Oil Company is also one of the largest oil monopolies in the United States, and also has an important position in the steel industry.

In short, the wealth owned by this consortium is only slightly inferior to that of the Morgan consortium, and even Rockefeller is dumbfounded.

In fact, all of Harding's cabinet members are very good. In addition to the secretary of the Treasury of the financial oligarchy and the secretary of state of Mobil Oil's spokesman, the army chief served as the manager of the Boston Stock Exchange of Morgan & Co., Hoover was the representative of the electric trust, and the secretary of the interior had close ties with oil giants such as Rockefeller and Sinclair......

Therefore, Andrew Mellon's mansion is simply exaggerated, and the temporary dance hall built on the lawn in the front yard for this ball can accommodate 2,000 people at the same time.

Less than seven o'clock, our Master Yuan followed Shi Zhaoji and Gu Weijun into the dance venue. It didn't take long for Warren Gameliel Harding to appear in front of everyone with his wife, Florence Clynn Harding. This is also the first time that Yuan Yanqian has seen a lively American commander-in-chief with her own eyes.

I have to say that the 56-year-old President Harding is indeed full of spirits. Tall and handsome, he looks like a big man. So much so that there is a Warren-Harding effect in later generations.

The so-called arren harding effect means that most powerful people in the United States are relatively burly. In the 21st century, there are also people who have enough to eat and have nothing to do, and they found that most male CEOs are more than 6 feet (about 183 centimeters) tall, 8 centimeters taller than the average American male height of 175 centimeters.

In contrast, his wife is not very good-looking, not only is she not good-looking, but her expression is also gloomy and perverse, and she looks like the kind of old woman who is not very easy to get along with. Hence her nickname "The Duchess".

President Harding gave a very brief speech, the main thing about which was to welcome everyone here. Compared to this morning's inaugural speech, this impromptu speech was quite interesting. In fact, this great commander is indeed quite easy-going, very witty, and eloquent.

Yuan Yanqian also followed the crowd and showed a small face in front of the first couple. He hasn't used "Card - Treachery 2" these days. But the charm of 17 o'clock is eye-catching enough. Moreover, he is still a popular writer, and even the Hardings have heard his name.

So our Master Yuan was honored to chat with them for a few words, and the treatment was much better than that of ordinary passers-by.

But when the dance party officially began, he didn't have anything to do without a dance partner, so he simply ran to the table and started eating.

"Mr. Yuan, where are you?"

Master Yuan, who was eating, turned his head and said with a smile, "Mr. Nomura, we met again in Washington. ”

"yes, yes." Nomura Kichizaburo warmly invited, "Mr. Yuan, I don't know if you are free, but we Minister Bihara Shigekiyo want to meet you, a master of literature." ”

"Oh. Minister Bihara wants to see me? Yuan Yanqian put down the food in his hand and said while arranging his clothes, "I naturally want to see this." ”